Portable cooling system

ABSTRACT

A portable cooling system is provided. The portable cooling system may include a tent, an evaporating cooling fan setup within the tent, and a source of water and power to the fan. The water and power source may include at least one water container and at least one generator secured to a frame. At least one power outlet is electrically connected to the generator and at least one water outlet is fluidly connected to the water container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/981,083 filed Apr. 17, 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cooling tents and, more particularly, to a portable cooling system for cooling tents.

Currently, a cooling trailer may be used to cool off construction workers at construction sites in order to prevent injury or death. Using an industry standard cooling trailer limits the number of workers that can be cooled at one time. For example, current cooling trailers may only hold up to fourteen people.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved portable cooling system to regulate the temperature of larger areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a portable cooling system for tents comprises: a frame; at least one water container secured to the frame; at least one generator secured to the frame; at least one power outlet electrically connected to the generator; at least one water outlet fluidly connected to the water container and comprising a water valve; and at least one evaporative cooling fan operably connected to the electrical power distributor and the water outlet.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of providing a cooling system for a tent comprising: erecting a tent; placing at least one evaporative cooling fan within the tent; connecting the at least one evaporating cooling fan to a water source; and connecting the at least one evaporating cooling fan to a power source.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention demonstrating general relationship of the components of the cooling system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a section detail view of the present invention along line 4-4 in FIG. 1 demonstrating lighting of the tent;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention includes cooling facilities using evaporative cooling fans in tents. By using evaporative cooling fans in tents, the present invention may provide cooling for over two hundred people as opposed to only up to fourteen for an industry standard cooling trailer. The method of the present invention may utilize a single utility distribution trailer or frame to regulate the temperature within one to four tents that may each contain over fifty people.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 8, the present invention includes a portable cooling system 10. The portable cooling system 10 may include a frame 28. At least one water container 12 and at least one generator 14 may be secured to the frame 28. As illustrated in the Figures, the present invention may include two water containers 12. However, in certain embodiments, the present invention may include one large water container 12. The present invention may include at least one power outlet 44 (GFI outlet) electrically connected to the generator 14 and at least one water outlet 42 fluidly connected to the water container 12. The water outlet 42 may include a valve 36 to control the output of the water. The present invention may further include at least one evaporative cooling fan 30 setup within a tent 22. The fan 30 is operably connected to the power outlet 44 and the water outlet 42, and thereby produces cool air for construction workers.

As illustrated in the Figures, the frame 28 of the present invention may include a trailer with a trailer bed and a plurality of wheels. However, the frame of the present invention may be any portable and supportive frame that contains the components mentioned above. When utilizing a trailer, the generator 14 and the water containers 12 are secured to the trailer bed. In certain embodiments, for safety reasons, the at least one generator 14 and the at least one water container 12 are mounted on separate portions of the frame 10 or trailer bed.

The water container 12 may be connected to the fans 30 by a water hose 40. In such embodiments, a first end of the hose 40 may connect with the water outlet 42 and the second end of the hose 40 may connect with the fan 30. Water may be pumped through the hose 40 and into the fan 30 by a pump 38. However, in certain embodiments, a pump 38 is not needed, and the water may transfer through the hose 40 via gravity. The generator 14 may be connected to the fans 30 by power cables 20. A first end of the power cable 20 may plug into the power outlet 44 and a second end of the power cable 20 may plug into the fan 30, providing power to the fan 30.

The generator 14 and water container 12 may service multiple cooling fans 30. In such embodiments, the present invention may include a water header 16. The water header 16 is fluidly connected to the water container 12. The water header 16 includes a plurality of water outlets 42. In such embodiments, a plurality of hoses 40 may be utilized so that each hose 40 may connect each of the water outlets 42 to each of the fans 30. Further, the present invention may include an electrical power distributor 18. The power distributor 18 may include a junction box 46 and a plurality of power outlets 44. The junction box 46 may include a plurality of fuses corresponding to each power outlet 44. In such embodiments, a plurality of power cables 20 may be utilized so that each power cable 20 may connect each of the power outlets 44 to each of the fans 30.

The present invention may include a method of providing a cooling system for a construction site. A tent 22 may be erected using a plurality of straps or ropes 24, as well as poles. At least one evaporative cooling fan 30 is placed within the tent 20. Further, a plurality of picnic tables 26 may be setup within the tent 20. The at least one water outlet 42 and the at least one evaporating cooling fan 30 are connected via a water hose 40 and the at least one power outlet 44 and the at least one evaporating cooling fan 30 are connected via a power cables 20.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 8, each tent 22 may include two fans 30. Further, the present invention may include two fans 30 within each of the multiple tents 22. For example, the portable cooling system may provide water and power to two, three or four tents 22, where each tent 22 contains at least two fans 30. In certain embodiments, the generator 124 of the present invention may also power lights 34 secured on poles that support the tent 22.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable cooling system for tents comprising: a frame; at least one water container secured to the frame; at least one generator secured to the frame; at least one power outlet electrically connected to the generator; at least one water outlet fluidly connected to the water container and comprising a water valve; and at least one evaporative cooling fan operably connected to the power outlet and the water outlet.
 2. The portable cooling system of claim 1, wherein the frame is a trailer comprising a trailer bed and a plurality of wheels, wherein the at least one water container and the at least one generator are secured to the trailer bed.
 3. The portable cooling system of claim 1, wherein the at least one generator and the at least one water container are mounted on separate portions of the frame.
 4. The portable cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a water header fluidly connected to the at least one water container and comprising a plurality of water outlets.
 5. The portable cooling system of claim 1, further comprising an electrical power distributor comprising a plurality of power outlets and a junction box connecting the plurality of power outlets to the generator.
 6. The portable cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a water hose connecting the at least one water outlet to the at least one evaporative cooling fan and a power cable connecting the power outlet to the at least one evaporative cooling fan.
 7. A method of providing a cooling system for a tent comprising: erecting a tent; placing at least one evaporative cooling fan within the tent; connecting the at least one evaporating cooling fan to a water source; and connecting the at least one evaporating cooling fan to a power source.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the water source and the power source are provided from a supplier comprising: a frame; at least one water container secured to the frame; and at least one generator secured to the frame.
 9. The portable cooling system of claim 8, wherein the frame is a trailer comprising a trailer bed and a plurality of wheels, wherein the at least one water container and the at least one generator are secured to the trailer bed.
 10. The portable cooling system of claim 8, wherein the at least one generator and the at least one water container are mounted on separate portions of the frame. 